Is your front lawn as hard as a parking lot? The phenomenon of having concrete-like soil – dense, hard, and impenetrable – is unfortunately common in this part of Massachusetts. Part of the reason why soil becomes compacted is due to simple geology, while other factors include recent construction, vehicle traffic on the lawn, or heavy use such as a children’s play area.
A solution to heavily compacted soil exists. It’s called lawn aeration. But what is lawn aeration and when is the ideal time to aerate your lawn?
What’s the Problem with Compacted Soil?
Take a glance at any nearby parking lot. How much grass do you see growing there? Not very much. That’s also the case with heavily compacted soil. When soil is compacted, it is difficult for grass seed to sprout and get established. If the grass does grow, the heavy, dense nature of the soil makes it almost impossible for the roots to spread out properly. Additionally, water, sunlight, and nutrition can not get into the heavy soil in order to nourish the grass. The end result of heavily compacted soil: Lawn Failure.
What Can Be Done About Heavily Compacted Soil?
The solution to heavily compacted soil is called lawn aeration. A service provided by your local lawn company, lawn aeration involves the use of specialized machinery to gently loosen your soil. This is an all natural method that involves no chemicals. Lawn aeration is completely family and pet safe.
During the lawn aeration process, thousands of tiny holes – each one approximately the size of a pencil eraser – are introduced into your lawn. This doesn’t seem like very much. But these tiny holes are more than large enough to give grass space to grow properly.
When is the Best Time to Aerate the Lawn?
Here in Massachusetts, we strongly recommend having the lawn aerated in the autumn. The ideal time to have your lawn aerated is between mid-September and mid-October. This allows your yard to receive all the benefits of aeration while allowing the yard enough time to recover before freezing temperatures arrive.
